BOYDS HISTORICAL
SOCIETY
Welcome to our website!

Boyds Historical Society was organized
in 1975 (as the Boyds/Clarksburg
Historical Society).   Our membership
consists of local residents who share an
interest in preserving our community's
history. We welcome potential new
members, contributions, suggestions,
and requests for information.  We are a
non profit, 501(c)(3) organization.
Our Mission:

The Boyds Historical Society wishes to:

  •        Establish an archive and museum
    facility for the community
  •        Preserve the Boyds Negro School as a
    Maryland Historic Site
  •        Promote and encourage activities
    that educate, entertain, and develop
    community fellowship,
  •        Provide space for community
    functions, events and festivals.
Boyds Negro School

1980, BHS acquired the historic Boyds Negro School
property.   The school is located at 19510 White
Ground Road.  This unheated one-room 22 x 30 foot
wooden building served as the only public school
for African Americans in the Boyds area from
1895-1936.  The schoolhouse housed students in
grades 1-8, many of whom walked for miles to attend
classes at the school.  After the purchase of the
property in 1980, the school was restored by BHS to
its original condition in approximately 1900.   
(pictured above, exterior, and below left, interior)
Mailing address:  
      P. O. Box 161
     Boyds MD  20841
Email:
info@boydshistory.org
Officers (2008)

President:               Elaine Fors-MacKellar
Vice President:       Maggie Bartlett
Secretary:                Candice Wilson
Treasurer:                Steve Gibson
Program Chairs:      Betty Hawkins &
                                 Ginger Gibson
Fundraising:            Florence Phillips
Community
Liaison:                     Kathie Hulley

Members:                 Bob Leyshon
                                Peg Coleman
                                Jane Mote
News  items

The Boyds Negro Schoolhouse
has been closed for over a year
while undergoing renovations
necessitated by water and
termite damage to the floor and
joists.  We have been working
with donors and community
partners to repair the school
and reopen it again as soon as
possible.   (removal of flooring
pictured above at right)

The full story may be found in
the Gazette newspapers:

http://www.gazette.net/stories/11
2906/germnew193801_31986.sht
m
BHS has produced an
educational video about the
history of the Boyds Negro
School.  It is entitled, "Boyds
Negro School -- Historic Lives."  
The video contains a
re-enactment of life as it was at
the historic school, along with
interviews with former students.
 The video is available for $10.00
from the Boyds Historical
Society.  Requests for copies of
the video may be made by mail
or by email.
Announcements/Events: (May,
2008.)

It's that time again!  Join us as we
partner with the Germantown
Historical Society to run the
monthly flea markets on the first
Saturday of each month at the
MARC train station parking lot in
Germantown.  2008 dates are April
5, May 3, June 7, July 5, August 2,
September 6, October 4, and
November 1.  If you have items to
donate to be sold to benefit BHS,
please email us.  We have been
especially successful with selling
used books, CD's and videos.

Our  restoration project is nearly
complete.  We have been approved
for all of our permits, so we are
excited that the school will be open
to the public once again for
Heritage Days on June 28/29.  We
are very grateful for all of the
contributions made to date in
support of our renovation project
for the Boyds Negro School.  

BHS was proud to fund and to
sponsor part of the Charles T.
Jacobs local history prize for the
Montgomery County part of the
National History Day competition,
held March 15, 2008 at Julius West
Middle School.  Many students
submitted excellent projects
demonstrating their knowledge and
interest on historical topics.